Program Fees: All of our programs are free for Boston Public Schools

Each grade level has opportunities to engage in a unique mock trial or mock appeal connected to the Discovering Justice curriculum.

Children Discovering Justice

Children Discovering Justice (CDJ) is a literacy-based social studies curriculum for elementary and middle school, that provides students with the tools to understand sophisticated ideas such as democracy, tolerance, rights, responsibilities, and the connection between rules and law.

Discovering Justice Field Trips

Grades K-5

Elementary mock trial field trips are offered as part of our Children Discovering Justice in-school curriculum. All of our field trips are offered Tuesday-Friday (excluding holidays) from 10:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. (K is from 10:15 a.m. -11:15 a. m.). We ask all teachers to assign mock trial roles to their students before the field trip.

Grade 6 and up

These field trips are either mock appeals based on a First or Fourth Amendment case or criminal mock trials. They are offered Tuesday-Friday (excluding holidays) from 9:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.

Discovering Justice Afterschool Programs

Fall Program

The Mock Trial Program is an 11-week after-school experiential learning program during which middle school students become trial lawyers. With the support of volunteer attorneys, students tackle age-appropriate legal issues, engage in legal analysis, and ultimately try cases in real courtrooms before federal or state judges and juries made up of community members.

Spring Program

Stand Up for Your Rights transforms middle school students into appellate lawyers. Working with a team of volunteer attorneys for 11 weeks, students delve into the Bill of Rights, explore how constitutional protections apply in public schools, and argue their cases in real courtrooms before Appellate Panels composed of actual judges and experienced attorneys.